ESTA Chaos

LT73

Had no real goodwill from Thomson, quite the contrary.

I'm paying for a quick turnaround of passports which I should get tomorrow.

Managed to get the last 2 seats on the plane this Friday.

All out of our own pockets.

Thomson wouldn't transfer our booking to this Friday's flight until 24 hours before take off and then would charge us £300.

Couldn't take the risk since only two seats left on the plane.

melanzana

I am in Ireland and this was flagged to death here in the papers, online and on SM. But nothing from Homeland Sec to be sure.

The requirements are a biometric passport. The symbol will be on your passport and it is on this link here under "Passport Requirements" look at the symbol on the black passport, it looks like a circle with two lines either side. That is an acceptable passport for the new rules.

https://www.dhs.gov/visa-waiver-program-requirements#1

Anyway, AFAIK passports issued after 2006 meet the biometric requirements, so your passport may be due for renewal soon anyway.

Sorry for your troubles in this regard. And I agree, it should have been flagged for you before you got to the airport.

LT73

Yeah. Passport due for renewal in August anyway.

I actually double checked that this would be OK and your alright for the US if you passport covers your stay.